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12月31日 My Teamies' Family Fan ClubSo during our meal tonight, our team got on the topic of blogs. I found out from the Wus and Sarah, that their family has started reading my blog to keep up with stuff that is happening here in China. Wow! I gotta step up my blog writing skills. I told the team that I only do this for my fam, but, now, I've got to whip out the desire for the Blog of the Year Award for 2006. So, to the Eymans, Wus, and Davis families, I got your backs.
Number of views as of this blog entry: 948. New Year's Eve DinnerI had the best time tonight! I love my teammates. Tonight we had an impropmtu team dinner at a "Western"-style restaurant. Different meals ordered were french fries (which looked like McDonald's in the State), salads (which looked like cole slaw), steaks, chicken legs & wings, chicken curry (which I got - and it was gooood), and an assortment of other things. We actually had silverware to use - amazing!
The restaurant gave us small "parting gifts" if you will. And we spent waaay too much on the meal - like 400 Yuan (which is really only $50 USD). What was funny was when I got in the cab with Seth and Ruth. To me, it seemed they were just yelling at the cabbie, who didn't have a clue what they were saying. It seemed to get louder as Seth began poking him and telling him in Chinese, "Don't you understand?" Of course, the guy had no clue. I was just busting up since Ruth and Seth were in a yelling match trying to get this guy to understand where we wanting to go. Then Seth told him to go straight to which the cabbie started going straight and started laughing. I'm sure he was thinking, "These guys can't speak a lick of Chinese. And now all I know is to go straight." So about after ten or twenty more seconds of yelling, I told the cabbie where to go in my flawless Chinese. He understood, turned right and we arrived home in a few minutes.
Now what is so funny about this is that I practice my Chinese all the time. I talk to myself outloud. I can say flawlessly how to get home, but, if you ask me basic questions, I'm like a Chinese RainMan - nothing to say!
Number of views as of this blog entry: 948. 12月29日 Deep ThoughtsAs I was walking from my last class for the semester, I was thinking about where I was in the world and why I am here. I discovered a deep sense of satisifcation - knowing that I'm at the right place, at the right time. It's a wonderful feeling knowing that you are exactely where you are supposed to be. I love my Chinese city, my Chinese students, my language learning, and my fellow teammates. What I am doing here far outweighs many of the most important things I've ever done in my life. You may think that this is an overstatement, but it is not. What I have been through in my life and what I've overcome has only highlighted the importance and pleasure that my present experience offers. Every person should have this feeling. It's even more than a feeling; it truly is a "sense" (as it is extends beyond a physical sensing into a spiritual/metaphysical one).
Tonight, I will go to sleep knowing that all is well with my soul.
Number of views as of this blog entry: 930. 12月28日 I'm Finished!By the time that most of you read this entry, I will have finished my first semester of teaching in China. Wow - it's amazing. It was November of last year that I applied to come and now, a year and one month later, I've finished my first gig. Crazy! If you asked me ten years ago of where I'd think I would be in ten years future, I would have never said teaching English in China. But here I is! Thanks to everyone back home who has helped me reach this point. With Finals being over, I must focus on my Wheaton homework for Thailand classes.
Number of views as of this blog entry: 917. 12月27日 Fun with ToysOne of the Christmas presents that Josiah received was a little ball and "bat" set. The "bat" is like a ping pong paddle that fits on your entire hand. The ball uses suction to hold onto the "bat" when thrown. The point of all is this is because the instructions that came with the toy were hilarious. Here it is (verbatim):
"Sticky ball is comprised of 32 fresh and soft natural sucking nipples. It can attach on smooth objects such as the surfaces of table and mirror. While playing, it won't cut hands or feet and can enhance handle and reactive ability. With special bat of sticky ball, it can be played by one or more persons. While played only by one person, you throw the ball in the air first, and then catch it with bat while sticky ball is falling. While played by more than two persons, one person casts the ball to another; another person catches it with bat and casts back to the former. It is full of joy and can build figure. Note: While playing, be careful not to hit sticky ball on key part of the body such as eyes and noses etc."
Number of views as of this blog entry: 896. It Is Soooo Cold!I just wanted everyone to know that today I am freezing! It was -7 degrees Fahrenheit when I went to class this morning. It is so cold that I get ice under my nose when I breath.
Number of views as of this blog entry: 893. 12月25日 Merry Christmas!The team just finished our Christmas meal and opening presents. So concludes my first Chinese Christmas. It has been a great first half here in China. I have learned much and anticipate even greater opportunities for next year. I got some really cool gifts and am excited about my Chinese wax stamp which has my Chinese name on it! It will go well with my calligraphy set. I'm so assimilating into the culture - and I love it all. I miss all of you good friends and family. Thank you for supporting me in the many ways all of you do.
By the way, if you say Merry Christmas in Chinese, you would say, "Shēng Dàn Kuàilè" (圣诞快乐).
Number of views as of this blog entry: 863. 12月24日 The One-Child Policy
The following article came in the last ZGBriefs. I found it interesting enough to blog.
New Rich Challenge Family Planning Policy (December 14, 2005, Xinhua) China's 'nouveaux riches' are not only competing with each to buy grandiose mansions and fast, expensive cars; their latest status symbol is a brood of children. Quite a few of China's wealthy people are skirting China's one-child family policy by simply paying to have two or more children. Business tycoons and show biz celebrities are finding a number of ways of getting around the one-child family policy. Many simply pay the fine which can be as high as 150,000 Yuan or about US$20,000 for urban dwellers or as low as 7,000 Yuan or almost US$900 for rural residents. Some wealthy people are even emigrating abroad for the sole purpose of having a second or third child whom they bring back to raise in China. According to a survey by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), conducted by the China Youth Daily, nearly 40 percent of the respondents said they wanted to have a second child. Number of views as of this blog entry: 834. Christmas Gifts #2 & #3Today was a very busy yet wonderful day. We coordinated with the orphanage to pick up six children and take them out to eat. We brought them to a buffet place and, boy, were they stoked. I don't think they get out AT ALL. One little girl couldn't stop smiling or laughing! Each of the kids made us home-made Christmas cards. It was a blessing to receive this small token of thanks from them. When we all arrived, we started eating.
It was so wonderful to see the children so happy and content. We had arranged to buy them shoes after the meal, but the orphanage worker who came with them said that wasn't needed. She said we should buy coats instead. We were confused. They all wore coats, and they were nice. But then the worker said that the orphanage "borrowed" them so they could look nice for us. Rachel was so touched that she cried.
So we grouped the kids and took them over to a shopping center and bought each of them a new coat. The boys got blue; the girls got pink. It was a beautiful feeling. Kudos to Sarah's mom who gave Sarah money specifically for these kids' meal and their coats.
I know that there are a lot of needs in the world. And I know I cannot solve all of them. But what I can do, I will. Today reminded me of a passage from the Bible which states that God is a father to the fatherless and a defender of orphans. In a country where having only one child is lawfully permitted by a husband and wife, it is amazing that these children were abandoned or unwanted. But I know that there is One who is watching over them. See the album "Bless the Children".
Number of views as of this blog entry: 830. Yes, Another PartyLast night, we shared a meal with some selected students. Then had some spontaneous karaoke (surprise!). After this, we went caroling around campus and sang to the students in their dormitory. It was colder than nothin'. I was freezing! You know it's cold when Sonny says it's cold (and when Sonny wears a fleece under a parka as well as wearing a beanie with his parka hat and even wearing gloves!). After dethawing at home, we had a "white elephant" exchange while warming up with Milo, Milk Tea, and coffee (yuck!). I got some smiley toothpicks (you know, like what you would use on a cheese platter or something). I stole them from Robb. See the album "White Elephant Party".
Number of views as of this blog entry: 822. Rockin' Around the Christmas TreeOn Wednesday night the Foreign Language Department held a Christmas Program. I was in three parts of it. First of all, the Teamies and I told the Christmas story using a little book that Jeweliann had for her kids. I was a shepherd as well as a wise man. After the mini-skit, we sang "O Come All Ye Faithful" in English and Chinese. Later, all three of my Freshmen Oral classes took the stage to sing "The Twelve Days of Christmas". If you remember, I taught all of them this song in my classes. So it was fun for some of them to get on stage because they may never perform any other way. Last, with the help of Sarah, we "danced" to Amy Grant's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree". Robb, Rachel, Jonny, Jeweliann, David and Sarah line danced while Ruth and I came out as a Christmas Tree and Santa, respectively. (Can you picture me as a Christmas Tree? Scary!) I found reindeer antler hats (with green antlers and red head pieces), so the dancers were wearing these. At the end of the performance, Santa threw candy. The night was much fun. Some of the pictures aren't as good as I wanted since the auditorium had really low lighting and I wasn't as close to the stage as I wanted to be. Though, when I was backstage, you can see some closeups. See the album "Rock the Hizzouse".
Number of views as of this blog entry: 820. Christmas FunniesMy good friend, Tammy Ford (from good ol' Muskogee, OK), sent me an email with some humorous Christmas Funnies. Take a look at them in the album called "Ho! Ho! Ho!".
Number of views as of this blog entry: 820. 12月23日 Ready for ChristmasI want everybody back home in the good ol' US to know I miss you terribly. This is my first Christmas away from all that is Home - and it is in some way depressing. But I am okay. I have not lost my Christmas tree as I have decorated my place with various Christmas items that I've found in China. I have garland in my doorway, a small Christmas tree (which was $1, mind you), a string of lights, homemade snowflakes and wrapped gifts for the Teamies. I've posted some pics in the album called "Christmas in China".
Tonight the team will be caroling around campus afterwhich we'll have a "white elephant" gift exchange with some selected students and have a meal. Tomorrow, we'll be taking the orphans out for a Christmas dinner. The orphans NEVER get out, so we're treating them to a buffet here in town. Then on Christmas day, we'll open presents and have a team dinner. Will post some pics later.
Merry Christmas!
Number of views as of this blog entry: 813. 12月20日 Proverbial SpeakingTwo weeks ago, I had my Freshmen Writing students write a journal entry on famous English proverbs. I gave them the beginning of several proverbs, and I told them to complete each one. Well, I graded them yesterday and some of them were pretty funny. I picked the twenty best one and here they are (with random commentary):
A rolling stone hits a rolling man’s foot. (Mmmm, true.) A rolling stone is a bomb. (Really?) A rolling stone will stop sooner or later. An apple a day is a good method to lose weight. (a.k.a., "The Surviving on 150 Calories a Day Diet") Better to be safe than to be in bars. Don’t count your chickens until there is no food left. Don’t count your chickens until they are stolen. Don’t count your chickens until you have eaten out. Don’t count your chickens until you have learned how to count. (This advice is well-taken.) Don’t cry over a head without hair. (This is for all the baldies out there.) Don’t cry over one minute. ("What? You cried 90 seconds? Weakling!") When the cat’s away, the dogs will be lonely. When the cat’s away, the mouse became a king. When the cat’s away, the rats are back again. When the cat’s away, you can find it in the kitchen. (I assume the cat is eating, not being eaten...?) You can lead a horse to water, but maybe he doesn’t want to do that. You can lead a horse to water, but a horse can’t lead you to water. (Well, I don't know about that...) You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t lead it to fire. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t lead the water to a horse. (Does irrigation count?) You can’t teach an old dog to eat bones. Number of views as of this blog entry: 785. 12月19日 An Engrish ChristmasStephanie, an American from New York, brought me a CD with some funny English. It is a Christmas CD. I didn't take pictures; I just wanted to share it with you. The first song that was funny is, "Hark! The Herald Angles Sing". (Go isosceles!) The second song is, "I Saw Moomy Kissing Santa Claus". (Pretty scary, eh?) I was really tired, so when I read these, I about lost it!
Number of views as of this blog entry: 768. Sixteen Course BanquetTonight we had a Christmas banquet. The Foreign Affairs Office invited all of the foreign teachers at the university. There were the eleven of us (Canadians & Americans), a Japanese teacher and two Russians for an all-inclusive twenty-two guests. When the Vice-President of the school greeted us, there was translation into English, Japanese and Russian.
The meal was sixteen courses! Even after we were full, more food was brought. It was craz-zee! Since the Chinese are big on Karaoke, several of us on the team sang different songs. I sang "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" to thunderous applause! (Riiiiight.) Anyway, we each got a gift: fashionable shaws for the women and ties for the men.
Number of views as of this blog entry: 767. 12月18日 Christmas Gift #1As a team, we went to the Orphanage and took some of our students to spread some Christmas cheer. The orphans have been in their new place for a month. It is a three-story castle. And it's way better than where they used to live. One of the dire needs is heating. Their heating just like our school and apartments: coal radiators. So, as a team, we purchased them a standing unit that should provide much needed heat. It's so cold in their castle that there is ice buildup on the window sills. In the pictures you will also notice that they try to dry clothes by placing them on the radiators; the other clothing items are outside (and trying to dry in 15 degree Farenheit weather). See the album "Orphanage Cheer".
Number of views as of this blog entry: 757. Why the Change?With it being Christmas and all, I thought I would just change my blog for a couple of weeks. The snow-like hues of blues and whites are a good touch. I've also add some Christmas music for your enjoyment. May each of you receive all of Christ's blessing in the coming days, months & years. Merry Christmas!
Number of views as of this blog entry: 751. Christmas Partaaa!We held an Open House Christmas Party yesterday from 1 to 5 PM. Each of us invited all of our classes to visit. At one point, I had like 25 students in my place. They were inquisitive, as some of them had never been to my place. They wanted to see my bedroom and commented on how many socks I had - and you can never have too many! They were checking out my kitchen because they wanted to know what I eat. And they loved the pictures under my glasstop coffee table. (I have pictures of family and students.)
One of the highlights was making snowflakes. Each student who came over made a colored snowflake to take home as a memento. A couple of students asked me if this is what I do at Christmas time and I said yes. I'm sure they now think all Americans makes snowflakes at Christmas time. I guess that is just them trying to understand a foreign culture. See pics and more in the album called "Christmas Open House".
Number of views as of this blog entry: 738. 12月16日 Egg & Cheese SandwichesThere are three students who tutor me on Fridays and Sundays in Chinese. Two of them were over yesterday and one was hungry. I told him I'd fix him some breakfast. So I whipped up an egg and cheese sandwich (with mayo of course). He said, "So this is my first American breakfast" - to which I was thinking, I bought all of this stuff in China. Anyway, he liked it. My other tutor said she wanted a bite. Now next week, I'm slated for cooking them both breakfast egg & cheese sandwiches. Gotta love it. Below are two pictures capturing the event.
Number of views as of this blog entry: 724. |
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